Lath wall construction



Aug. 6, 1968 Q PETRlG 3,395,506

LATH WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 5. 1966 I N VEN TOR.

Dau/d Def@ United States Patent O 3,395,506 LATH WALL CONSTRUCTION David Petrig, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Alabama Metal Industries Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 591,793 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-349) This invention relates to a lath wall construction and more particularly to such a wall construction which shall be adapted for use as a non-load bearing wall, such as office partiti-ons and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a lath wall construction lformed of metal lath sections which form the sole support for the wall, thus eliminating vertical studs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wall construction of the character designated which shall include improved means for indicating to the worker the exact position of each panel section of the wall, thus eliminating mistakes and providing accurate means for positioning the panel sections whereby the wall may be erected by unskilled labor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wall construction of the character designated in which the components thereof may be stacked in direct contact with each other, thereby reducing the space required for shipping and storage.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a wall construction of the character designated in which an improved sound barrier is provided due to the fact that there are no studs lfor the direct transfer of sound through the wall construction.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a wall construction of the character designated which shall be extremely simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which may be erected in a minimum of time.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, it has been the usual practice to erect lath walls by first mounting Vertical studs and then securing the lath panels to the vertical studs. Not only does this increase the overall cost of the wall construction, but the vertical studs provide a direct transfer of sound from one side of the wall to the other. In accordance with my invention, I provide upper and lower trackways with vertically extending lath panels secured thereto whereby the lath panels form the sole support for the wall section, thus eliminating the necessity of erecting vertical studs and at the same time providing an effective sound barrier.

A lath wall construction embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental, perspective view showing a portion of a lath wall, with parts being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a fragment of a layer of plaster applied to the wall section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outline of a wall panel; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, diagrammatic, plan view showing the manner in which the panel sections are secured to each other, the upper and lower guideways being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show an upper trackway which is preferably in the form of a channel-like member having a web portion 11 and depending flanges 12 and 13 3,395,506 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 which extend longitudinally thereof, as shown in FIG. l. Downwardly opening, longitudinally spaced slots 14 and 16 are provided in the depending flanges 12 and 13, respectively. Each downwardly opening slot 14 is in transverse alignment `with a downwardly opening slot 16 whereby transversely aligned pairs of equally spaced slots 14 and 16 are provided longitudinally of the trackway 10. Suitable openings 17 are provided through the web 1.1 of the trackway 10 for receiving a suitable retaining element, such as a screw, nail or the like whereby the trackway may be secured to an overhead structure. Also, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 18 are provided through the depending anges 12 and 13 for receiving suitable securing elements whereby the lath panels are secured to the flanges in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Mounted in vertical alignment with the upper trackway 10 is a lower trackway 19 which is in the form of a channel-like member having a web portion 21 and upstanding flanges 22 and 23. Upwardly opening, longitudinally spaced slots 24 and 26 are provided in the longitudinally extended flanges 22 and 23, respectively. The slots 24 are spaced equal distances from each other and each upwardly opening slot 24 is in transverse alignment with an upwardly opening slot 26, as shown in FIGS 1 and 2. Also, as shown in FIG. l, the trackways 10 and 19 extend in horizontal planes and are in. vertical alignment with each other whereby each pair of transverse slots 14 and 16 is in vertical alignment with a pair of upwardly opening slots 24 and 26. That is, each downwardly opening slot 14 is in vertical alignment with an upwardly opening slot 24 while each downwardly opening slot 16 is in vertical alignment with an upwardly opening slot 26.

Longitudinally spaced openings 27 are provided in the web 21 of the trackway 19 for receiving suitable securing elements, such as screws, nails or the like, for securing the trackway to the iloor or other supporting structure. Also, longitudinally spaced openings 28 are provided in the upstanding llanges 22 and 23 for receiving securing elements whereby the lath panels are secured to the trackways in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Spanning the distance between the upper trackway 10 and the lower trackway 19 are a plurality of lath panels 29 formed of a suitable material, such as expanded metal. Preferably, each lath panel 29 extends from a position adjacent the web 11 of the upper trackway to the web 2.1 of the lower trackway, as shown in FIG. l. Each lath panel comprises a rst panel section 31 which lies between and extends generally at right angles to other panel sections 32 and 33. The rst panel section 31 is of a length to span the distance between upper and lower pairs of transversely aligned slots in the upper and lower trackways 10 and 19. As shown in FIG. l, the upper and lower ends of the first panel section 31 engage the downwardly opening slots 14 and 16 and the upwardly opening slots 24 and 26 to thus secure opposite ends of the lath panel in place. The other panel sections 32 and 33 extending at right angles to the panel 31 engage the outer sides of the flanges 12-13 and 22-23 to thus limit movement of the panel section 31 relative to the downwardly opening slots and upwardly opening slots.

The panel sections 32 and 33 are formed integrally with' the panel section 31, as shown in. FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each panel section 32 is of a length less than the distance between adjacent longitudinally spaced slots in the trackways 1l) and 19. Also, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, each panel section 33 is of a length greater than twice the distance between adjacent longi- 3 tudinally spaced slots in the upper and lower trackways. As shown in FIG. 2, every other one of the lath panels 29 has its panel section 33 at one side of the upper and lower trackways and 19 with its other panel section 32 at the opposite side of the upper and lower trackways. Accordingly, each panel section 33 extends alongside and adjacent a short panel section 32 with the free end of the panel section 33 terminating slightly beyond the panel section 31 of an adjacent lath panel 29.

The panel sections 32 and 33 are secured to each other by suitable means, such as wire or clip members 34. The downwardly opening slots in the upper trackway V10 and the upwardly opening slots in the trackway 19 thus determine the position of the transverse panel sections 31 whereby they are spaced equally from each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By forming the intermediate panel section 31 at right angles to the other panel sections 32 and 33, a very sturdy structure is provided and at the same time the other ends 32 and 33 of the panels 29 extend alongside each other, as shown in FIG. 2, to provide a continuous wall panel at each side of the wall. The upper and lower edges of the panel sections are secured to the upper and lower trackways by passing the wire or clip members 34 through the panels and the openings 18 and 28, respectively.

From the foregoing description, the manner in which my improved lath wall is erected will be readily understood. The upper trackway 10 is secured to an overhead structure by passing securing elements, such as screws, nails or the like, through opening 17 in the webs 11 of the upper trackway. The lower trackway 19 is positioned in vertical alignment with the upper trackway 10 whereby each pair of transversely aligned, downwardly operiing slots 14-16 is in vertical alignment with a transversely aligned pair of upwardly opening slots 24-26. The lower trackway 19 is then secured to its supporting structure by passing securing elements through the openings 27.

With the upper and lower trackways 4thus secured in place, the panels 29 are assembled, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the panel sections 31 spanning the distance between the transversely aligned downwardly opening slots and upwardly opening slots whereby the other panel sections 32 and 33 extend in opposite directions at opposite sides of the upper and lower trackways. The panel sections 31 are inserted in the downwardly opening slots and upwardly opening slots in the trackways whereby the panel sections 32 and 33 of adjacent panels 29 extend in opposite directions relative to each other. Every other panel 29 or alternate panels are mounted at opposite sides of the upper and lower trackways 10 and 19 whereby each panel section 33 extends alongside and past a short panel section 32 and then terminates beyond a transverse panel section 31 of an adjacent panel 29. The free ends of the panel sections 32 and 33 are secured to adjacent panel sections 32 and 33, as shown in FIG. 2, by passing the wire clip members 34 through adjacent panel sections. Also, the upper and low ends of the panel sections 32 and 33 are secured to the upper and lower trackways by passing t-he clip members 34 through the openings 18 and 24 and adjacent portions of the panel sections. After the panels 29 have been thus erected between the upper and lower trackways 10 and 19, plaster, indicated at 35 is applied to the exterior surface of the panels 29 to thus complete the finished wall in a manner well understood in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved lath wall structure. By providing transversely aligned slots in the upper and lower trackways for receiving the transverse panel sections 31 with the other panel sections 32 and 33 extending at right angles thereto, each panel 29 is anchored to the upper and lower trackways and at the same time the transverse panel sections 31 a-re spaced the proper distance from each other. Also, by thus connecting the panels 29 to the upper and lower trackways and then securing the adjacent panels to each other by the wire clip members 34 and securing the upper and lower ends of the panels to the upper and lower trackways, a very strong wall structure is provided which eliminates the necessity of providing vertical studs for supporting the lath panels. Furthermore, by eliminating the studs within the wall structure, an effective sound barrier is provided since there is no direct transfer of sound through vertical support members, such as solid studs.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lath wall construction comprising:

(a) an upper trackway having longitudinally extending depending flanges spaced from each other,

(b) downwardly opening, longitudinally spaced slots in said depending fianges with the slots in one of said depending anges being in transverse alignment with t-he slots in the other depending flange,

(c) a lower trackway having longitudinally extending upstanding flanges spaced from each other,

(d) upwardly opening, longitudinally spaced slots in said upstanding fianges with the slots in one of said upstanding flanges being in transverse alignment with the slots in the other upstanding fiange,

(e) said lower trackway being in vertical alignment with said upper trackway with said -upwardly opening slots in said lower trackway being in vertical alignment with said downwardly opening slots in said upper trackway,

(f) a plurality of lath panels spanning the distance between said upper and lower trackways with each panel having a first panel section between and extending generally at right angles to other panel sections with said first panel section spanning and engaging upper and lower pairs of transversely aligned slots in said upper and lower trackways,

(g) said other panel sections of each panel being of a length to extend alongside said other panel sections of an adjacent panel, and

(h) means securing adjacent ones of said other panel sections to each other.

2. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which said other panel sections are formed integrally with said first panel section and one of said other panel sections is of a length greater than twice the distance -between adjacent longitudinally spaced slots in said upper and lower trackways while the other of said other panel sections is of a length less than the distance between adjacent longitudinally spaced slots.

3. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which said upper and lower trackways are channel-like members having openings in the webs thereof for receiving securing elements.

4. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which said longitudinally spaced slots of each trackway are spaced equal distances from each other.

5. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which said panels are panels of expanded metal.

6. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which the longitudinally extending flanges of said upper and lower trackways are provided with openings therethrough for receiving securing elements.

7. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in which alternate ones of said lath panels have one of said other panel sections at one side of said upper and lower trackways with the other of said other panel sections at the opposite side of said upper and lower trackways.

8. A lath wall construction as defined in claim 1 in 5 6 which said other panel sections of adjacent panel sections 1,701,304 2/ 1929 Jones 52-352 extend in opposite directions lrelative to each other. 2,058,386 10/ 1936 Parsons 52--241 X 2,289,989 7/ 1942 Page 52--241 X References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LATH WALL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: (A) AN UPPER TRACKWAY HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING DEPENDING FLANGES SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, (B) DOWNWARDLY OPENING, LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SLOTS IN SAID DEPENDING FLANGES WITH THE SLOTS IN ONE OF SAID DEPENDING FLANGES BEING IN TRANSVERSE ALIGNMENT WITH THE SLOTS IN THE OTHER DEPENDING FLANGE, (C) A LOWER TRACKWAY HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPSTANDING FLANGES SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, (D) UPWARDLY OPENING, LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SLOTS IN SAID UPSTANDING FLANGES WITH THE SLOTS IN ONE OF SAID UPSTANDING FLANGES BEING IN TRANSVERSE ALIGNMENT WITH THE SLOTS IN THE OTHER UPSTANDING FLANGE, (E) SAID LOWER TRACKWAY BEING IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID UPPER TRACKWAY WITH SAID UPWARDLY OPENING SLOTS IN SAID LOWER TRACKWAY BEING IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DOWNWARDLY OPENING SLOTS IN SAID UPPER TRACKWAY, (F) A PLURALITY OF LATH PANELS SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER TRACKWAYS WITH EACH PANEL HAVING A FIRST PANEL SECTION BETWEEN AND EXTENDING GENERALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO OTHER PANEL SECTIONS WITH SAID FIRST PANEL SECTION SPANNING AND ENGAGING UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID UPPER AND LOWER TRACKWAYS, (G) SAID OTHER PANEL SECTIONS OF EACH PANEL BEING OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND ALONGSIDE SAID OTHER PANEL SECTIONS OF AN ADJACENT PANEL, AND (H) MEANS SECURING ADJACENT ONES OF SAID OTHER PANEL SECTIONS TO EACH OTHER. 